PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saki Funaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and matt hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). hughes is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: your goin down. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Funaki
vs
hughes

175 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Renegade Extreme Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Saki Funaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, matt hughes!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Anthony Taglia and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funaki shoots in but no luck this time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Funaki.
Funaki works hughes's body with a nice hook.
Funaki fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saki Funaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

hughes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

hughes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and hughes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

hughes drops back looking for a leg! Funaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Funaki manages to kick hughes off! hughes jumps back into Funaki's guard.
hughes works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki trying to control but hughes postures up.
hughes stops Funaki from getting back to his feet.

hughes is looking for a kimura but Funaki is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for hughes to get the leverage.
Funaki tries to get to full guard but hughes has control of the leg.
Funaki trying to control here.

hughes is working for a submission of some sort.

hughes seems to be working for a kimura but Funaki defends the submission attempt.
hughes looks gassed!
Funaki trying to control but hughes postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

hughes looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

hughes wants to work for an arm triangle but Funaki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Funaki is looking for a sweep. hughes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

hughes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Funaki is looking to improve his position.
Funaki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for hughes on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

hughes seems to be working for a kimura but Funaki defends the submission attempt.

hughes is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Funaki has managed to free his arm - good work.

hughes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Funaki doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time hughes.
Funaki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Funaki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

hughes drops back looking for a leg! Funaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Funaki manages to kick hughes off! hughes jumps back into Funaki's guard.

hughes drops back looking for a leg! Funaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Funaki manages to kick hughes off! hughes jumps back into Funaki's guard.
Funaki wants to get back to his feet but hughes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

hughes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and hughes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

hughes drops back looking for a leg! Funaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Funaki manages to kick hughes off! hughes jumps back into Funaki's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

matt hughes dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

hughes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Funaki tries to escape but hughes is in control.

hughes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Funaki has escaped the position, nice work there.

hughes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Funaki has escaped the position, nice work there.
Funaki throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
hughes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funaki gets back to half guard.

hughes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Funaki defends it well.

hughes is trying to work for a kimura but Funaki is defending well.
Funaki is trying to get back to full guard.

hughes is looking for a kimura here.

hughes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

hughes is trying to work for a kimura but Funaki is defending well.

hughes is working for a submission of some sort.
Funaki moves into full guard.

Funaki has his foot on hughes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. hughes works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Funaki trying to keep a closed guard but hughes is proving a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
hughes doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Funaki moves into the clinch.

Funaki has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics hughes uses from the top position.

Funaki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

hughes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Funaki wants to stand but hughes is controlling the position.

hughes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

hughes drops back looking for a leg! Funaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Funaki manages to kick hughes off! hughes jumps back into Funaki's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

hughes drops back, looking for a kneebar! Funaki looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Funaki looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Funaki!
hughes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Funaki in side control, throwing shots but hughes defends.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
hughes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Funaki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
hughes sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

matt hughes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

hughes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Funaki!
Funaki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

hughes swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). matt hughes!